Dispensing cartons



Oct. 16, 1962 H. R. JAESCHKE DISPENSING CARTONS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledMarch 9, 1959 FIG. 2.

B INVENTOR, HAROLD R. JAESCHKE. Me?

BY Qflflugfw m g ATTORNEY FIG. I.

FIG. 5.

1962 H. R. JAESCHKE 3,058,619

DISPENSING CARTONS Filed March 9, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 BY Bun/1 ATORNEY United States Patent 3,o58,619 DHSPENSENG CARTONS Harold R.Jaeschke, Miiwaukee, Wis, assignor to Waldorf Paper Products Company,St. Paul, Minn, a corporation of Minnesota Filed Mar. 9, 1959, Ser. No.798,231 7 Claims. (Cl. 221-395) This invention relates to an improvementin dispensing cartons and deals particularly with a carton designed toenclose a series of nested cups and which may be used as a cupdispenser.

During recent years it has become relatively common practice to providecartons which serve as an enclosure for a plurality of nested cups andwhich may be hung up to position the cups in superimposed relation sothat they may be easily dispensed. Some means must be provided forretaining the cups within the carton, this means being releasable sothat the cups may be withdrawn one at a time from the open bottom of thecarton. The present invention resides in a novel form of cup supportwhich functions automatically by the folding of certain flaps into apredetermined position.

In order to support the cups within the carton, flaps must be foldedfrom the walls. of the carton to extend into the body of the carton adistance sufficient to engage the upper flanged edge of the lowermostcup. Difficulty has been experienced in inserting the flaps so that theyextend into the carton just the right amount to accomplish the desiredresult. In the present invention, a flap is hingedly connected to eachof a plurality of walls and connected to the wall along a horizontalline of fold. This flap is designed to be folded outwardly into rightangular relation to the carton wall. The .fiap is provided with aprojecting tongue which extends beyond the fold line and which foldsinwardly into the carton as the remainder of the flap is foldedoutwardly This inwardly extending portion is of just the proper lengthto engage the flanged upper edge of the lowermost cup. As a result, thedistance to which the flap extends into the carton is definitelyregulated and the carton operates in the same manner at all times. Theseand other objects and novel features of the present invention will bemore clearly and fully set forth in the following specification andclaims.

In the drawings forming a part of the specification:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the cup dispenser in closed position.

FIGURE 2 is a front elevational view of the cup dispenser in readinessfor use.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view through the lower portion of the dispensershowing a single cup in position to be dispensed.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view through the dispenser, the cups having beenremoved therefrom.

FIGURE 5 is a diagrammatic view of the blank from which the dispenser isformed.

The carton A is formed of the blank illustrated in FIG- URE 5 of thedrawings. As illustrated, the carton includes a back panel 10, a sidewall panel 11, a front wall panel 12, and a side wall panel 13 which arefoldably connected along fold lines 14, 15 and 16. A glue flap 17 isfoldably connected to the rear wall panel 10' along a fold line 19 whichis parallel to the other fold lines mentioned.

A flap 20 is foldably connected to the upper edge of the rear wall 10along a fold line 21. The flap 20 is divided into an innerflap portion22 and an outer flap portion 23 by a fold line 24 which extends parallelto the fold line 21. The flap portion 23 is slightly longer than theflap portion 22 so that the free edge of the flap portion 23 may extenddown into the carton when the carton is folded. The flap portions 22 and23 are provided with apertures 25 and 26 which register when the flap 20is doubled along the fold line 24.

The side wall panels 11 and 13 are foldably connected along an extensionof the fold line 21 to closing flaps 27 and 29. The front wall 12 isfoldably connected along the fold line 21 to a cover flap 36 which ishingedly connected along a fold line 31 to a tuck flap 32 which may befolded between the edges of the flaps 27 and 29 and the rear wall panel10 when the carton is folded.

The lower ends of the side walls 11 and 13 are foldably connected alonga perforated line 33 to closing flaps 34 and '35. The lower end of thefront wall panel 12 is also connected along the fold line 33 to a bottomclosure panel 36. The bottom closure panel 36 is hingedly connectedalong a fold line 37 to a tuck flap 39 which is designed to extendbetween edges of the closing flaps 34 and and the rear wall panel 10.

Flaps 40 and 41 are foldably connected to the side wall panels 11 and 13respectively along fold lines 42 and 43 respectively. The flaps 40 and41 are divided into inner flap sections 44 and outer flap sections 45.The outer flap sections 45 are provided with projecting tongues 46 ofreduced width as compared with the width of the remainder of the flaps40 and 41. The upper corners of the projecting tongues 46 are madeaccessible to be pulled outwardly by a pair of cut lines 47 whichdiverge apart from the end corners of the projecting tongues 46. Thesediverging cut lines 47 define trapezoidal tabs 49 which may be pressedinwardly by the finger so that the upper ends of the tongues 46 may begrasped between the finger and thumb and pulled outwardly.

The fold lines 42 and 43 which connect the flaps 40' and 41 to the wallpanels 11 and 13 are centrally interrupted by U-shaped cut lines 50which project below the fold lines and form tongues 51 which areintegral with the inner flap sections 44 and which fold in unisontherewith. Generally U-shaped cut lines 52 and 53 are provided in theside walls 11 and 13 beneath the level of the tabs 40 and 41 and are ofproper width to accommodate the projecting tongues 46 of these flaps.

The front wall 12 of the carton is provided with a flap 54 which issimilar to the flaps 411 and 41 but which is connected to the front wall12 along a fold line 55 which is somewhat beneath the level of the foldlines 42 and 43 which are at equal distance from the perforated line33-. The flap 54 is divided by a fold line 56 into an inner section 57and an outer section 59 provided with a tongue 60 of reduced width.Diverging cut lines 61 emanate from the corners of the projectingtongues 60 to provide a trapezoidal flap 6 2 which may be pressedinwardly to permit engagement of the upper end of the flap 54.

As in the flaps 40 and 41, the foldline 55 is interrupted by a U-shapedout line 63 which extends below the level of the fold line 55 anddefines a tongue 64 which is integral with the inner flap section 57 andis foldable in unison therewith. A U-shaped cut 1ine'65 is providedbeneath the level of the flap 54 which is of proper width to accommodatethe projecting tongue 60. The portion of the outer flap section 59adjacent the projecting tongue 60 forms shoulders engageable with theouter surface of the panel 12 in folded condition of the flap 54.

In the use of the carton A, the cartons are folded along the fold lines14 and 16 and the glue lap 17 is adhered in surface contact to the panel1'3. When the carton is to to be filled, one end such as the lower endis closed by folding the flaps 34 and 35 across the end of the carton,folding the bottom flap 36 to underlie the flaps 34 and 35 and tuckingthe tuck flap 39 down between the rear edges of the flaps 34 and 35 andthe rear wall 10.

The cups such as B which are in nested condition are then inserted intothe carton. The cups B are shown as including tapered side walls 67 anda peripheral flange 69 a at the upper ends of these walls. The top endof the carton is then closed by folding the side wall flaps 2"] and 29down across the upper end of the carton and folding the top flap 30 tooverlie the flaps 27 and 29, and inserting the tuck flap 32 between therear edges of the flaps 27 and 29 and the rear wall 10. The flap 26 maybe folded to overlie the cover flap 30, may be folded down against therear wall 10, or may be supported in any other suitable position duringshipment and storage.

When the carton is to be used, the bottom end of the carton is openedand the flaps 34, 35 and 36 are torn off along the perforated lines 33.The flap 20 is folded upwardly from the rear wall panel and is foldedalong its intermediate fold line 24 so that the free edge of the flapsection 29 is in substantially surface contact with the flap section 22and the free edge is inserted between the tuck flap 32 and the rear wall10 of the carton as indicated in FIGURES 1, 2 and 4 of the drawings.

During this procedure, the carton A is preferably held in invertedposition or rested upon one of the wall panels so that the cups will notdrop from the lower end of the carton. The flaps 40 and 41 are nextfolded into operative position by grasping the tongue portions 46,folding the flaps outwardly until the inner sections 44 are angularlyrelated to the side walls to which they are hinged, and the tongues 51are swung into the carton. The flaps are next folded along theirintermediate fold lines 70 and the tongues 46 are inserted through theslot formed by the cut lines 52 and 53. When the tongues are fullyinserted, the flap sections 44 are at right angles to the walls 11 and13 and the tongues 51 extend inwardly from these walls.

The flap 54 is then folded in a similar manner, by grasping the tongues60 and pulling the flap outwardly along its fold line 55. The flap isnext folded along its intermediate fold line 56 and the tongue 60 isinserted through the slots 65. This positions the tongue 64 at rightangles to the front wall panel 12 somewhat below the level of thetongues 51.

The carton A is then hung up upon a nail or other support which extendsthrough the aligned apertures'25 and 26 of the flap 20. The flange 69 ofthe lowermost cup B of the series drops upon the tongues 51, thesetongues forming a support for the cups.

When it is desired to remove a cup, the lowermost cup B is grasped,which is simplified by the fact that the lower end of the cup issupported beneath the lower end of the carton A. By exerting a downwardpull upon the cup, the tongues 51 and the rim 69 of the cup will flexsufiiciently to permit this cup to be removed. However, the flaps aresufliciently rigid to remain in the path of the flange 69 of the nextsucceeding cup so that only a single cup will be dispensed.

The tongue 64 engages the forward edge of the cup as it is removed andtends to tilt the cup forwardly. This simplifies the operation ofremoving the cups. Furthermore, in the event the cup B is grasped firmlyenough or is nested into the next cup tightly enough to tend to leavethe carton with the lowermost cup, this tongue 64 has a tendency toengage the rim of the upper cup and to retain it within the carton.

In accordance with the patent statutes, I have described the principlesof construction and operation of my improvement in dispensing cartons,and while I have endeavored to set forth the best embodiment thereof, Idesire to have it understood that changes may be made within the scopeof the following claims without departing from the spirit of myinvention.

I claim:

1. A dispensing carton for nested cups having circumferential flanges attheir upper ends, the carton comprising a tubular body including aseries of wall panels connected together and forming a rectangularsleeve of a size to accommodate the cups in nested relation, a pair offlaps hingedly secured to two opposed of said panels along parallel foldlines, the fold lines being intermediate the sleeve ends and parallel toand at equal distance from, one end of said sleeve, tongues integralwith the flaps and extending from the fold lines in a direction oppositeto the remainder of said flaps, said tongues extending inwardly intosaid tubular body when the remainder of said flaps extends outwardlyfrom said two opposed panels, said tongues, when extending inwardly,being engageable with the flange of the lowermost cup when said cups arein superimposed position.

2. The structure of claim 1 and including means for holding said flapsin outwardly projecting position from said two opposed panels.

3. The structure of claim 1 and including outer flap sections foldablyconnected to the ends of said flaps and engageable with said two opposedpanels to hold said flaps in said outwardly folded position.

4. The structure of claim 1 and in which said fold lines are spaced fromsaid one end of said sleeve a dis tance less than the height of thecups.

5. The structure of claim 1 and including a third flap foldablyconnected to a third of said panels along a fold line parallel to saidend of said sleeve and nearer said one sleeve end than said firstmentioned fold lines, said third flap being similar in form to saidpreviously described flaps.

6. A dispensing carton for nested cups having circumferential flanges attheir upper ends, the carton comprising a series of wall panelsconnected together and forming a rectangular sleeve of a size toaccommodate the cups in nested relation, a pair of flaps hingedlysecured to two opposed of said panels along fold lines intermediate thesleeve ends, the fold lines being parallel to, and spaced at equaldistance from, one end of said sleeve, tongues integral with the flapsand extending from the fold lines in a direction opposite to theremainder of said flaps, said tongues extending inwardly into the sleevewhen the remainder of said flaps extends outwardly from said two opposedpanels, said tongues, when extending inwardly, being engageable with thecircumferential flange of the lowermost cup when said cups are insuperimposed position, outer flap sections hingedly connected to theends of said flaps, tongues projecting from the ends of said outer flapsections, said two opposed panels having slots therein to accommodatesaid last named tongues, said outer flap sections holding said flaps insubstantially right angular relation to said two opposed side walls.

7. The structure of claim 6 and including a similar flap hingedlyconnected to a third panel along a fold line closer to the said onesleeve end than the previously named fold line, said similar flap havingan integral tongue projecting inwardly from said third wall when saidsimilar flap is folded outwardly therefrom.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,289,487 Lockwood Dec. 31, 1918 1,429,701 Stephens Sept. 19, 19222,325,277 Rothe et al. July 27, 1943 2,741,413 Pringle Apr. 10, 19562,926,813 Marion Mar. 1, 1960

